DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
JAMMU, Jan 12
Natrang’s most sought after Winter Theatre Workshop for children culminated here today with a vibrant performance of Balwant Thakur’s ‘Rang Badalti Duniya’ at the auditorium of the Government College for Women Parade, Jammu which collaborated this rare showcasing. The play was directed by Neeraj Kant and was assisted by Kanan Kaur and Palshin Dutta. Mohd. Yaseen coordinated the workshop. Earlier welcoming the gathering the Director of Natrang Padamshree Balwant Thakur dwelt in detail about Natrang’s unique initiative of popularizing theatre amongst children. Terming theatre as one of the most effective, tried and tested medium of personality exploration and development, Balwant Thakur cited many examples of magical changes which he witnessed amongst children during his last Thirty-Five years of work with Children. Majority of Natrang products are now either top actors in the Tinsel Town or holding prominent positions in professional spheres, civil services and corporate world. “Theatre should not be seen as an art of making faces but it’s amazing power has the unlimited potential to transform personalities” Balwant Thakur added. On the occasion he thanked Prof. Dr. S. P. Saraswat, Principal Government College for Women Parade for extending all required help in the presentation of ‘Rang Badalti Duniya’.
All the participants learnt the art of expressing their thoughts, vision, and reflections during the process of Natrang’s unique training programme. This art of expressing the self through the art of theatre is amazing. In every session they prepared seven to eight new skits and right from the script to characterization, to direction and presentation was done by the children themselves. In their presentations one can find a lovely caricature of the world and their surroundings as seen by them. Away from the stressful school classes, the boring coaching sessions, they explored their immense inner abilities in a total free atmosphere of fun and fare. This is the magical power the theatre which is bringing lot of cheer on their face and wisdom in their minds.
Today’s presentation ‘Rang Badalti Duniya’ was a satire on the present setup where people change colors for their vested interests. Set in a market scene, the play opens with the vendors looking for the customers desperately. Suddenly a child appears, presuming him as a prospective rich buyer, everybody offers eatables and toys. When it comes to pay, the child expresses his innocence and inability. To recover the money, the vendors approach and bribe the policemen who start beating the child. At this point a milkmaid appears who recognizes the child as Commissioner’s son. On finding this the vendors are thrashed and the child is offered all tasty treats and gifts. Police-men go to the extent of pressing legs and feet of the child. Finding them doing so, a passerby mocks them which prompts them to again thrash the child. This to be or not to be continues for long till the Commissioner appears on the scene which pushes the play to a surprising stunning end.
Young artists who gave mind-blowing performances and received appreciation of the audiences included Aarjav Jain, Aarya Mahajan, Adeesha Singh, Advik Sharma, Anaadi Abrol, Araiya Shan, Daivik Gupta, Deshna Jain, Mehak Chib, Eva Saini, Evaana Sawhney, Hriday Vashishth, Supria Gorka, Jayaditya Singh, Niddha Mahajan, Nitaara Sawhney, Noor Abrol, Priyal Ashok Gupta, Ruhaan Chandan, Samrat Sharma, Shranya Jandial, Shriyan Jandial and Trivid Mahajan.
The presentations were ably conducted by Palshin Dutta. The hall management was looked after by Kushal Bhat, Sanket Bhagat, Sushant Singh Charak, Vishal Sharma and Sunny Mujoo.
